A freshman design experience: Retention and motivation

The growth in the retention rate of freshman students in the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is discussed. The growth is due to the change in curriculum and the incorporation of new teaching methodologies. The freshmens are motivated to learn about engineering and to be successful in their studies. A new course called Fundamentals of Engineering Design, FED 101, is incorporated in the freshman year. It introduces the freshman students to various disciplines and the design process that engineers experience in industry. Active learning methods are also used by the students in their learning process which has improved interest and participation in their engineering education.